Blank measuring and distrubuting machine



July 5, 1938. J. J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1936 8 Sheets-Sheet l l I'DlTLUY': James rffiarw /arz, z'] W WkMW ttfys.

July 5, 1938. .1. .J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING ANDDISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 wk E m v Q qi J. J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE July 5, 1938.

Filed Feb. 5, 1

8 Shets-Sheet s July 5, 1938. J. J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ztjal y 8- J. J. DONOVAN 2,123,136

BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1936 s Sheets-Sheet 5 o 0 o Q Q/ -Q o I k 0 ff g) 69 I I o v: I m o Q I l I .IIII I I gxa Im Ja me; 1f fiWmz/am Anya.

I l I I l l I I l I I I l I l I l I I I I I I l l l I I I I I I l I I I I I l I I l l l l I I I I I I I l I I I l July 5, 1938. J. J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACH INK Filed Feb. 5, 1936 l 8 Sheets-Shqet 6 EEEPEL I i James r]. 19072006172,

Attjs.

July 5, 1938. J. J. DONOVAN BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Ely AZzjJ.

y 1938. J. J. DONOVAN 2,123,136

BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES BLANK MEASURING AND DISTRIBUTING MACHINE James J. Donovan, Arlington, Mass, assignor to North American Holding Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 5, 1936, Serial No. 62,478

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for measuring, distributing and sorting soles, heel lifts, taps and other blanks of the types used in shoe making.

The principal object of the invention is to pro vide a machine which is of relatively simple construction, accurate and reliable in operation and which is more efiicient than those heretofore proposed.

Further objects will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a topplan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the present inven-- tion;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, on a reduced scale, of a part of the evening machine;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in section, showing the trip setting mechanism associated with the measuring and evening rolls;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing a modified type of trip setting mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the distributing mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. '7 is a section, with parts removed, taken on the line 'I-I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing the rear of the distributing mechanism; Fig. 9 is an enlarged top plan View of the rear of the distributing mechanism;

Fig. 10 is an end elevation, partly in section, showing a modified construction;

Fig. 11 is a detail View showing the connection between the carriage and conveyor chain; and

Fig. 12 is a top plan View of the rear of the distributing mechanism shown in Fig. 10.

{The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9 comprises an evening and a calipering mechanism,

0 designated generally by the numeral I (Figs. 1

and 2), which is constructed and arranged to discharge successive blanks on to the distributing mechanism designated generally by the numeral 2. As the evening and calipering mechanism, hereinafter referred to as the grader, is of the type shown in the United States patent to Nichols No. 1,057,358 and the United States patent to Cogswell No. 1,820,010, to which reference may be had for a complete description, the present description will be limited to those parts of the mechanism which are directly associated with the distributing mechanism 2.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the grader comprises the usual calipering rolls 5 and 6 (Fig. 3) through which the blanks pass on their way to the evening and feeding rolls 1 and 8 (Fig. 2). The rolls I and 8 are journaled in bearings 9 and I0 which are slidably mounted in vertical guides carried by the frame I I, the lower bearings I0 being supported by heavy compression springs I2. The lower wedges I4 are carried by the bearings 9 and cooperate with the upper Wedges I5 mounted on the under side of the slide 18 which may be connected with the calipering rolls 5 and 6, as shown in the above-mentioned patents to Nichols and Cogswell. The skiving knife I! is mounted in the usual manner to cooperate with the rolls I and 8 so as to remove a skiving from the bottom or'flesh side of a blank, depending upon the setting of the wedges I5, which is governed by the calipering rolls acting through the slide I6.

The calipering rolls 5 and 6 and the skiving rolls I and 8 are continuously rotated by the usual driving connections and the feed shaft I8, normally at rest, is connected with an actuating mechanism (not shown) controlled by the pivoted trip I9 which, when depressed, is not only operative to effect the operation of the marking mechanism, but also to effect the operation of the actuating mechanism so as to cause the feed shaft I8 to turn one revolution. The feed shaft I8 is connected by gears 20 and 2I to a shaft 22 which carries a sprocket wheel 23 connected by a chain 24' to a sprocket wheel 25 secured to a shaft 26 journaled in a bearing fixed to the frame II. The shaft 26 extends rearwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, and provides the drive for the distributing mechanism 2.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, a slidebar 30 is mounted in a sleeve 3I. having a longitudinally extending slot 32, the sleeve 3| being rigidly secured to the frame II. Secured to the outer end of the slidebar 30 is an enlarged flat plate providing a stop 34 which constitutes a controller member for positioning a trip I40, and the lower edge of the slidebar is provided with'a row of ratchet teeth 35. A latch or pawl 36, secured to one end of a bell crank lever 38 pivoted at 39 to the frame II cooperates with the ratchetteeth -to hold the slidebar 30 and stop 34 against retraction or inward movement. The opposite end of the bell crank 38 is pivotally connected to one end of a 1ink40 and the opposite end of the link is pivotally connected to the free, end of an arm 4| secured to a rock shaft 42 which supports the trip I9. A spring 44 normally holds the trip I9 and aforementioned elements associated therewith in the position shown in Figs. 2 and. 4. It is apparent that when a blank passes from the calipering rolls 5 and 6 to the skiving and feeding rolls 1 and 8 (Fig. 2) it strikes the cam-like nose of the trip l9, thereby depressing the trip and causing the rock shaft 42 to rotate in a clockwise direction and thus retract the pawl or latch 36.

The slidebar 39 is pivotally connected to one end of a link 46 by a pin 4'! which passes through the slot 32 in the sleeve 3i, and the opposite end of the link 49 is pivotally connected to one arm of a bell crank 48 ivoted at 49 to a block 59 rigidly secured to the frame H. A spring 52 yieldingly urges the slidebar 3B inwardly and upon the release of the latch 36 draws the slidebar and stop to retracted position, as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. The other arm of the bell crank 48 carries a pin which rides in a slot 53 in a link 54 which is connected by an arm 55 with one of the journal boxes or bearings 9, the parts being so designed that when the upper roll I is at its lowermost position, the pin abuts the lower end of the slot 53, thereby permitting the slidebar 39 to be retracted to its full extent.

When a blank passes between the rolls l and 3, the upper roll 1 is lifted a distance governed by the relative position of the wedges l4 and I5, and this upward displacement of the roll I, acting through the arm 55, link 54, bell crank 48, and link 46, causes the stop 94 to move outwardly against the action of the spring 52 to a position corresponding to the thickness to which the blank is evened or skived by the knife ll. As the latch 36 normally engages the ratchet teeth 35, it holds the stop 34 in set position until the succeeding blank discharged from the calipering rolls 5 and 6 engages the trip l9 and effects the release of the slidebar and stop.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 a pair of continuously driven feeding and calipering rolls 5'! and 58 are positioned to receive the blanks discharged from the skiving rolls l and 8, the upper roll 51 being journaled int-bearings or journal blocks 59 which slide in vertical guides rigidly secured to the frame H, and a compression spring BI is provided yieldingly to urge the upper roll 51 toward the lower roll 58. In this construction the link 54 which is relatively shorter than the corresponding link 54 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, is connected to a block 62 rigidly secured to the upper end of one of a pair of spindles 63 which extend downwardly through openings in brackets 64. The lower ends of the spindle 63 are secured to the bearings or journal boxes 59 and their upper ends are threaded to receive a stop nut 65 and a lock nut 66, by means of which the extent of the downward movement of the roll 51 may be varied and secured in adjusted position. The compression springs 5| are circumposed about the spindles 63 so as to act against the journal boxes 59 and the. under side of the brackets 64. The operation of this type of construction is substantially the same as that shown in Figs. 2 and 4, except that the setting of the stop 34 is governed by the upward displacement of the roll 51.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 6, and '7, the distributing mechanism 2 comprises a frame 19 which is supported at one side by suitable uprights and at its opposite side by brackets secured to the frame I l of the grader. A receiving platform or bed plate H is supported upon the frame 10 by brackets 12 and is disposed in alignment with and at substantially the same horizontal level as the feeding and skiving rolls 1 and 8 (Fig. 2), so that blanks 3%- are discharged from the grader directly onto the bed plate in position against a stop 13, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1.

A series of unloading stations, bins or receptacles I4 is disposed beneath the frame 10 and rearwardly of the bed plate ll (Fig. 6) and with the exception of the rear receptacle each is provided with a trapdoor or tilting gate 15. The upper faces of the trapdoors are in the same horizontal plane. and collectively define a slideway at substantially the same horizontal level as the bed plate H, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. Each of the trapdoors is pivotally supported along one edge by a pintle 16 (Figs. 1 and 9) whose opposite ends are journaled in upstanding bars H and 18 carried by the frame 10 (Figs. 1 and 7). The rear edge of each trapdoor I5 is formed with a downwardly extending arm or tail 19 (Figs. 1, 6, 8 and 9) which projects upwardly beyond the slideway when the trapdoor is in open position. Each door is normally held in closed position by a latch (Fig. 7) sli-dably mounted in a transversely extending opening in the bar 18 and a spring 8U carried by each latch normally holds it in locking position. The outer end of each latch is formed with a head 8| which is cooperatively associated with a cam 82 carried by a rock shaft 83 journaled in bearings in spaced upright frame members 84 and 85 (Figs. 1 and 6) supported on the frame 19 by brackets 72 and 86 (Figs. 6 and 8). Each rock shaft 83 carries an upstanding latch releasing member or abutment arm 88 and these abutment arms are transversely offset, relative to the center of the slideway, distances corresponding to the difference in thickness between the different sizes of blanks, for example, a difference of or 1 iron. Each cam is normally held disengaged from its latch head 8! by a spring 89 which yieldingly holds the cam against a stop pin 90. When one of the abutment arms 88 is swung rearwardly its associated cam 82 is rotated clockwise (Fig. 6) so as to engage the associated latch head and push the latch connected thereto outwardly, thereby permitting the trapdoor to drop downwardly by gravity.

The conveyor mechanism comprises a pair of spaced endless chains 94 and 95 which extend above the platform fl and slideway and which support one or more carriers, designated generally by the numeral 95. In the embodiment herein shown four carriers are used and the mechanism is so designed that when the feed shaft 26 makes one revolution, as above described, it causes each carrier 96 to move one quarter of its total travel. A greater or lesser number of carriers may be used in which case the driving mechanism should be modified so as to cause the carriers to move a greater or lesser distance for each revolution of the driving shaft 26.

The chains 94 and 95 are carried by two pairs of sprocket wheels Ell and 98, the sprocket wheels 9'! being secured to the driving shaft 26 which is journaled in stanehions 99 rigidly secured to the front end of the frame 10, and the sprocket wheels 98 being mounted on a shaft Hi9 journaled in stanchions l9! rigidly secured to the rear of the frame ll) (Figs. 8 and 9). The upper and lower run of each chain snugly fits within and is guided by horizontally extending channels I04 and I95 disposed above the slideway and rigidly supported by brackets I06 and I9"! which are secured to the frame 19.

A guide cam H0 is rigidly supported above the platform ll by a frame member IH (Figs. 1, 2 and 6) and another guide cam H2 is similarly supported by the lower channel I94, these cams I being positioned adjacent to therfront of the platform II and between the chains 94 and 95, as shown in Fig. 2. A guide sleeve H5 (Figs. 2 and 6) is secured to the frame member II3. adjacent to the-outer edge ofthe platform II and a tripping cam H6 and associated guide member I I! are secured to the frame member I I I -at a point approximately opposite the stop 34, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6.

" guide channel Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, an upwardly inclined cam I and an inwardly extending cam I 2I are supported adjacent to one of the rear sprocket wheels 98, the upper end of the cam I26 terminating above the level of the topof the lower I05 through which the lower stretch of said-chain extends and the inner end -last gate or trapdoor I5.

of the cam I2I terminating inwardly of said sprocket whee198 and chain. These cams I 26 and I2I constitute a repositioning means for the automatic trip whichis associated with the carrier 96 and are therefore located at a point rearwardly of the latch releasing abutment for the Each carrier 95 (Figs. 1, 2, 6 and 9) comprises a cross bar Iwhose ends are weldedor otherwise secured to aligned links of the chains 94 and 95. This cross bar is provided with a pair of forwardly extending arms I26 and at its rear edge with a pair of downwardly extending fingers I21, each arm having a leaf spring presser finger I28. The fingers I21 are arranged to engage the edge of a blank B and the spring fingers I28 are disposed yieldingly to engage the upper face of the blank as the carrier travels across the platform. "II.. p

A plate I30 (Figs. 1 and 2). having a trans versely disposed sleeve I 3I is rigidly secured to the crossbar I25 and a bar l32 is'mounted in the sleeve IEI so as to slide transversely of the path of travel of the carrier. The parts are so constructed-and arranged'that when the carrier is movingacross the platform 1|,theslidebar I32 is at the same horizontal level as the stop 34. The lower edge of the-slidebar is formed with ratchet'teeth I34 which cooperate with a springpressed latchor locking pawl I35 pivotally connected to the plate I39, the latch against outward movement, but permitting the slidebar to be pushed inwardly against the ac- 1 tion of a tension spring I36 which is secured at one end'to the slidebarand at'its opposite end to the plate I30. The spring I36 is normally under sufficient tension to move the bar I32 outwardly into engagement with the stop 34 but by reason of the latch 135 the slidebar is nor- :mally held in a retracted position as shown in Figs.- 1, 2 and 6. The latch I35 is provided with an arm I38 (Fig. 9) arranged to engage the cam IIS as the carrier passes across the platform I'II; thereby to effect the release of thezslidebar and permit it to moveoutwardly against the stop under the action of the'tension spring I 36.

The outer (left-hand) end of the slidebar is formed with avertically extending opening in which atrip rod I40 is slidably mounted and this trip rod is providedwith an inwardlyextending arm or pin I II arranged to engage and'ride up *over the cam I I 8 when the slidebar is in retracted position. A small tension spring yieldingly and normally holds the trip'rodin a de'pressedlowervmost position and as the' carriage moves along the slideway the arm I4 I rides up the cam I IB until latch I38'is tripped by cam I IE whereupon the .spring'IJ36 throws the bar I32cnd-wise toward and Ittl-being 1 "normally operative to hold the slidebar I32 'squarelyagainst the fingers IZ'I.

against the stop 34 after the latter has been adjustedzand positioned by either the feed rolls I and 8, Fig. 2, or'the rolls 57 and 58, Fig. 5. At the moment of the operation of latch I38 by cam I IIi'the lower end of the trip rod I 36 is just above the level of the lowermost channel I I34 through which the lower stretch of chain 94 extends. This operation of the latch also occurs just before the trip rod-reaches the crossbar I I I of the frame, and it will be clear that during this endwise move-- ment of the bar I32 and after the trip rod MI! I has passed across the top of the said channel I04 -said trip rod is restored to its normal lowermost position again by its'spring referred to above.

It will therefore appear that the cam I III is provided for the purpose of raising the stop rod I40 so that it will pass over the top of the channel Iildand that thecam H6 is provided to release the bar 132 at a moment when it is longitudinally aligned with the adjusted stop 34. After the bar I32 has been adjusted into position against the stop 34 and the trip rod I 40 occupies its lowermost normal position again the lower end portion of the latter is then in a position wherein it engages one of the abutment members 88, depending upon the setting of the slidebar I32.

" In order to steady the carrierin its movement about the sprocket Wheels 9? and across the platform "II, an upwardly and outwardly extending arm M2 (Fig.- 2) is provided upon the outer (right-hand) end of the carrier cross bar I25 and an arm M3 is secured to the plate I 35, the end of the arm I42 being arranged to slide within the channel guide H5 as the carrier completes its swing around sprockets 9'5 and as it approaches the platform II and the arm I 43 being arranged to ride along the carrier-steadying and guiding rail IItas the carrier passes across the platform. During the passage of the carrier across the plate a 'II one of the fingers I26 thereof slides beneath the cam or rail II? whose function is to assist in holding the carrier against upward displacement while parts mounted on the carrier arebeing operated.

In order that the depending fingers I21 may squarely engage the edge of a blank B as the carrier travels across the platform 'II, I provide a pair of upstanding fingers M5 and I46 (Figs. 1 and 2) which project through openings adjacent to the rear edge of the platform (Fig.

1), these fingers being mountedon a rock shaft M! (Fig. '2) journaled in bearings secured to the underside of the platform. A coil spring I 38,

circumposed about the rock shaft Ml, normally their normal positions.

At the outer (right-hand) end of the crossbar I25 is a depending cam I50 (Figs. 1 and 6) disposed invertical alignment with the downwardly extending arms III on the doors "I5. The cam I is positioned so as to engage the arms I9 when any of the doors 75 are opened and thereby close them as the carrier moves along the slideway. I

- The operation of the machine is as follows:

.A blank B,here shown as a shoe sole but which may be a heel lift or other piece of sheet material, is fed in the usual manner to the calipering rolls 5 and 6 (Fig. 3) of the grader, the displacement of the upper roll setting the wedges I5 carried by the slide I6. The blank is delivered directly into the nip of the skiving rolls I and 8, but before entering depresses the trip lever I9, thereby effecting the withdrawal of the latch member 36 and consequent retraction of the stop 34. In passingthrough the skiving rolls the blank causes an upward displacement of the upper roll which eiTects the positioning of the stop 34 in accordance with the measured thickness of the blank while trip I9 is held depressed by the blank. The knife II removes the skiving from the blank and after being evened the blank is then discharged directly upon the platform II against the stop I3, as shown in Fig. 1. In the meantime one of the carriers 96 is coming into position (Figs. 1 and 6), and just after the blank is discharged upon the platform II, the fingers I2'I of the carrier engage the blank and it is slid across the platform. In moving across the platform the arm I4I rides up the cam H0 and raises the trip I40 to an elevation sufficient to clear the lower run of the chain 94 and by that time the arm I38 of latch I35 has engaged the cam II6 thus releasing slide bar I32, and permitting it to move outwardly against the positioned stop 34. The latch arm I38 then clears the cam H6 and is returned to locking position wherein it holds the slidebar I32 in set position corresponding to the measurement of the blank being pushed or carried along. During this time the front edge of the blank B has engaged the fingers I45 and I46 which yieldingly oppose its movement and in so doing cause the blank to become positioned squarely against the depending fingers I21.

While traveling along the slideway the trip I40 engages one of the abutments 88 and thus efiects the release of the associated latch 80 and the discharge of the blank into the bin beneath the door which has been sprung or dropped open. In the event the setting of the trip I40 is such that it does not engage any of the latches, then the blank will be pushed along until it falls off the end of the slideway into the last bin or receptacle (Figs. 8 and 9).

After passing the last abutment 88, the carrier reaches the cams I20 and I2I, the cam I20 being operative to raise the trip above the lower channel I04 of the adjacent chain, after which the cam I2I retracts the slidebar I32 to a position wherein the trip is disposed inwardly of the chain 94, as shown in Fig. 9 where it is caught and held by latch I38. The carrier is then conveyed around the sprocket wheels 98 and 91 back to the front end of the distributing mechanism where it picks up another blank, and the operation is repeated.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 10 to 12, the mode of operation is substantially the same as in the embodiment above described, and the same or corresponding reference numerals have been applied to like parts. In this embodiment a spring pressed slide bar I32 is slidably mounted in a sleeve I3I carried by the crossbar I25 of the carrier 96 the slidebar and sleeve being disposed at a level below that of the lower run of chain 94. The latch I35 is located above the sleeve I3I so as to engage the teeth I34 which are formed on the top of the slidebar. The latch is provided with an integral extension or arm I55 arranged to engage a cam IIIS as the carrier moves across the platform II, thereby to effect the release of the latch and permit the slidebar to be moved outwardly so that the trip I40 engages the stop 34. In this embodiment the trip I40, when in retracted position, is disposed between the chain 94 and the inner face of the stanchions 99 and IOI, so that it will clear the latter members during its travel about the sprocket wheels. As there is no necessity for elevating the trip in order to position the slidebar against the stop 34, the cam I I0 and associated parts are dispensed with and for the same reason the cam I20 is likewise dispensed with and the inner end of the cam I2I terminates at a point between the vertical plane of the inner faces of the stanchions 99 and IOI and the chain 94, as shown in Fig. 12.

In this embodiment I have also shown a modified form of guiding means for the carrier as it approaches the platform, such guiding means comprising a laterally projecting boss I60 (Figs. 10 and 11) formed on the link connecting the end of the crossbar I25 with the chain 95. The boss I60 has a snug sliding fit in a channel I62 which constitutes a guide which is rigidly secured to the inner side of an angle iron forming part of the frame of the machine, the outer end of the guide channel being located adjacent to the sprocket wheel 97, as shown in Fig. 11.

While I have shown and described different desirable embodiments of the invention it is to be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described, may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor having a carrier moving in a fixed path of travel, a plurality of unloading stations disposed in a series along said path of travel, means for measuring the thicknesses of successive blanks and for discharging the measured blanks on a supporting member disposed in said path of travel so that said carrier moves the blanks along said path, and means for causing the blanks to be discharged at different stations according to their measured thicknesses, said means comprising a movable controller member associated with said measuring means and whose position relative to the path of travel of said carrier varies in accordance with the measured thickness of a blank discharged on said supporting member, a plurality of graduated abutments disposed along said path of travel one adjacent to each of said stations, an adjustable trip member mounted on said carriage and engageable with said abutments to eifect the discharge of a blank being moved by said carrier at a predetermined one of said stations, means for moving said trip member against said controller member as said trip member is passing by said control member, thereby to position it in accordance with the measured thickness of a blank being moved, and means for repositioning said trip member after it has passed the final unloading station.

2. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor having a carrier moving in a fixed path of travel, a plurality of unloading stations disposed in a series along said path of travel, means for measuring the thicknesses of successive blanks and for discharging the measured blank on a supporting member disposed in said path of travel so that said carriermoves the blanks along said path, andmeans for causing blank being moved by said'carrier at a predetermined one of said stations, means operative as said-carrier moves across said supporting member to move said'trip member against said controller member, thereby to position it in accordance with the measured thickness of a blank being moved, and means for repositioning said trip member after it has passed thefinal station.

3. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor having a carrier moving in a fixed path of travel, a plurality of unloading stations disposed along said path oftravel, means for measuring the thicknesses of successive blanks and fordischarging the measured blank on a supporting member disposed in said path of travel so that saidcarrier moves the blanks along said path, and means for causing the blanks to be discharged at different stations according to their measured-thicknesses, said means comprising a movable controller member associated with said measuring means andwhose position relative to the pathof travel of said carrier varies in accordance with the measured thickness of a blank discharged on said supporting member, a plurality of graduated abutments disposed along said path of travel, a spring-pressed trip member mounted on said carriage, a latch for holding said trip member in retracted position, said trip member upon the release of said latch being engageable first with said controller member and subsequently with said abutments to efiect the discharge of a blank being moved by said carrier, means operative as said carrier moves across said supporting member to release said latch thereby to position said trip member against said controller member, and means for retracting said trip member after said carrier has passed the last station.

4. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged side by side, each receptacle having a trapdoor at its top that is part of aslideway and a releasable latch normally holding the door in closed position, a-plurality of relatively offset abutments each assosaid measuring means for varying the position of said controller member relative to the path of travel of said carrier in accordance with the measurement of a blank discharged onto said slideway, anadjustable trip-member mounted onsaid carrier and movable thereon towardand away from said controller member, meansfor moving said trip member transversely on said carrierinto engagement with said controller member as it travels past the latter so that it will selectively engage one of said abutments, and means for repositioning said trip member after it has passed the final receptacle.

5. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged side by side, each receptacle having a trapdoor at its top and a releasablelatch normally holding the door in closed position, the trapdoors collectively defining a slideway which includes a blank receiving platform, a plurality of relativelyofisetabutments each associated with one ofthe latches, means for measuring blanks and diswhich includes said platform and, slideway, the

carrier being constructed andarranged to en= gage and move a blank discharged onto the platform alongsaid slideway, and means for causing the blanks to be discharged into different receptacles according to their measurements, said means comprising a'controller member movable toward andaway from the path'of travel of said carrier, means associated with said measuring means for positioning said controller member, relative to said path of travel in accordance with the'measurement of each blank discharged onto said platform, and an adjustable trip member mounted on said carrier so as to be positioned by said controller member so as selectivelyto engage one of said abutments andthereby effect the discharge of a blank carried thereby.

6, A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged side by side, each receptacle having a trapdoor at its top-and a releasable latch normally holding the door in closed position, the trapdoors collectively defining a slideway, a plurality of relatively offset abutments each associated with one of r the latches, means providing a blank receiving platform at one end of said slideway, means for measuring blanks and discharging them onto said platform, a conveyor including a carrier traveling along a fixed path which includes said platform and slideway, the carrier being constructed and arranged to engage and move a blank discharged onto the platform along said slideway, and means for causing the blanks to be discharged intodifferent receptacles according to their-measurements, said means comprising a movable controller member disposed adjacent to said slide-= way, means associated with said measuring means for moving said controller member toward and, away from the path of travelof said carrier in accordance with the measurement of a blank discharged onto said platform; anadjustable trip: member mounted on said carrier and movable thereon toward and away from said controller member, means for moving said trip member transversely on'said carrier into engagement with said controller member as it travels past the latter so that it will selectively engage one of said abutments and through the latter operate the latch of a predetermined one of said trapdoors thereby to effect delivery of said blank into the receptacle of said trapdoor, and means for repositioning said trip member after it has passed the final receptacle.

7. A machine of the class described comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged side by side,

each receptacle having a gravity-opened door at its top and a releasable spring latch normally holding the door in closed position, the doors collectively defining a slideway, a plurality of relatively offset abutments each associated with one of the latches, a blank receiving platform at one end of said slideway, means for measuring blanks and discharging them onto said platform, a conveyor including a carrier traveling along a fixed path which includes said platform and slideway, the carrier being constructed and arranged to engage a blank discharged onto the platform and move it along said slideway, and means for causing .the blanks to be discharged into different receptacles according to their measurements, said means comprising a movable controller member disposed adjacent to said platform, means asso ciated with said measuring means for moving said controller member toward and away from the path of travel of said carrier in accordance with the measurement of a blank discharged onto said platform, an adjustable trip member mounted on said carrier and movable thereon toward and away from said controller member, means for moving said trip member transversely on said carrier into engagement with said controller member when it is opposite the latter so that it will selectively engage one of said abutments to release the door of a predetermined receptacle to efiect delivery of said blank into the latter, and means on said conveyor for closing said door after such delivery, and means for repositioning said trip member after it has passed the final receptacle.

8. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for measuring the thicknesses of blanks, a traveling conveyor constructed and arranged to move each measured blank positively throughout a fixed path extending from said measuring mechanism to a selected delivery station, means for causing the blanks to be delivered by said conveyor at different spaced apart delivery stations alongside of said path according to their measured thicknesses, said means comprising a 1 movable controller member occupying a position adjacent to said path, mechanism controlled by the measuring mechanism for moving said controller member into an adjusted position relative- 1y to said path which accords with the measured thickness of each blank, a plurality of graduated operative to move said trip member on said conveyor into a projected operative position against said controller member as it passes the latter thereby to position the trip member to accord with the measured thickness of said blank so that as the movement of the conveyor continues said trip member selectively operates one of said abutment members to effect delivery of said blank at the station of said abutment member, and means for restoring said trip member to its normal retracted position after each blank delivery.

9. A machine of the class described comprising mechanism for measuring the thicknesses of blanks, a traveling conveyor constructed and arranged to move each measured blank positively throughout a fixed path extending from said measuring mechanism to a selected delivery station, means for causing the blank to be delivered by said conveyor at different spaced apart delivery stations alongside of said path according to their measured thicknesses, said means comprising a movable controller member occupying a position adjacent to said path, means through which said measuring mechanism acts to move said controller member into adjusted position relatively to said path according with the measured thickness of each blank, a plurality of graduated delivery-eifecting abutments, one for each of said stations, an abutment-operating trip member movably mounted on said conveyor and normally occupying a retracted inoperative position, means operative to move said trip member on said conveyor into a projected operative position against said controller member as it passes the latter thereby to position the trip member to accord with the measured thickness of said blank so that as the movement of the conveyor continues said trip member selectively operates one of said abutment members to effect delivery of said blank at the station of said abutment member, and means for restoring said trip member to its normal retracted position after each blank delivery.

10. A machine of the class described comprising a conveyor having a carrier moving in a fixed path of travel, a plurality of unloading stations disposed in a series along said path of travel, means for measuring successive blanks and for discharging them in said path of travel so that said carrier moves them along said path of travel, and means for causing the measured blanks to be discharged at difierent stations according to their measurements, said means comprising a movable controller associated with said measuring means and Whose position relative to said path of travel varies in accordance with the measurements of a blank discharged in said path of travel, a plurality of graduated abutments disposed along said path of travel, a trip member movably mounted on said carrier and normally disposed in an inoperative position, means operative to move said trip member into engagement with said controller thereby to position it so as to engage one of said abutments and efiect the discharge of a blank being moved by said conveyor, and means for repositioning said trip member to inoperative position.

JAMES J. DONOVAN. 

